Apparatus and method for making serial number tape



Sept. 2, 1958 G. T.|oYDEN APPARATUS AND` METHOD FOR MAKING SERIAL NUMBER TAPE Filed Dec. 15, 1955 2v Sheets-Sheet 1 uv @E wlvk x SST INVENTOR. 6'. 7.' PYDE/V,

vA65/v7 Sept. 2, 1958l G. T. ROYDEN APPARATUS AND METHOD FoR MAKING SERIAL NUMBER TAPE Filed Deo. 15, 1955 2 S/heets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 5. Zn P05/.55N

` AGE/vr United States PatentiO APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING SERIAL NUMBER TAPE George Taylor Royden, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Mackay Radio and Telegraph Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 15, 1955, Serial No. 553,589`

9 Claims. (Cl. 164-115) My invention relates to an apparatus for and method of producing number tapes for use in telegraph oces.

In some telegraph offices it is customary to employ a number of multiple transmitter distributor sets, which when used with reperforators provide combinedl sending and receiving facilities for tape message relaying. These sets usually comprise two automatic tape message transmitter distributors and a number transmitter distributor. The function of the number of transmitter distributor is to insert automatically into the signal line from a num- 'ber tape, .successive .numbers as well as a circuit code designation, which will identify each message before the address anditext are transmitted. The number trans mitter distributor is like the message' transmitter distributors except that it is equipped with a letter sensing mechanism which makes it responsive to the letters shift combination in the number tape tocause the stopping of the number transmitter distributor and starting of a message transmitter distributor through` suitable control of circuits. v y

y A large telegraph oflice of this type handles numerous circuits and a very substantial quantity of number tapes is in continuous use. `Since a different number tape has to be provided for each circuit and the tapes wear out rapidly, the punching of the tapes byr hand is a laborious and expensive procedure. y v y It is an object of my invention to providean apparatus for and method of producing such number tapes by lautor'natic means. j

According to my invention, to prepare the serial numb er tape there are provided two automatic tape transmitter distributors and a reperforator associated with a control circuit for alternately stopping and starting the transmitter distributors, under the control of around or endless tape. which is placedin one of the transmitter distributors and an auxiliary tape which isplaced L in the-other transmitter distributor. The 'round tape is auxiliary tape is perforated kwithrepeated groups of code j pert'orations,v each group comprising at least a different serialnumber code followed by a letter shift combination. When the figure-shift combinations on the round tapeare sensed inthe first transmitter distributor, contacts are actuated to stop the rst transmitterl distributor ment used in practising my invention; i y

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a part of an automatic f. ice Y `2 the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is adagram showing in block form the equipof the transmitters TD1 `and TD2 are connected in series in the signal input circuit to the reperforator RP.

The transmitter distributor TD1 may comprise a transmitter distributor similar tothe number transmitter distributorpreviously referred to, with the exception that the letter shift operating lever extension 1 ismodified by grinding in its edge a notch 2, as shown in Fig. `2a.

This permits it to sense Figure shift combinations (mark, mark, space, mark, mark) as well as Letter shift c0mbinations (all marks). Referring to Fig. 2, the figures and letters operating lever 3 has two extension arms 4 and 5. The end of the arm 4 rides -on a cam 6, and when it is over thecut-away sector thereof, it permits the extension-1 'to sense the ends of the five selector levers 7. If the codecoinbination is that for figure or letter shift, the extension 1 is not blocked by any transmitter distributor, thecontacts (9 in Fig. 3)are.

opened responsive to the sensing', by the lever4 extension, such as 1, of a letter shift combination only. The printing reperforatorfRPrnay be of any known type.

To make an'automatic number tape, a round tape containing the desired circuit code designationis first prepared on a typing perfor-ator jor by other suitable means. The round tape is4 shown in Fig. 4A. l It is punched With repeated groups ofperforations, each group comprising the circuit designationtSF for San Francisco, forinstance) followed `bythe figure shift combination.' The cirgummed together'so as to form a loop having precisely and to start the secondtransmitter distributor, and when,

mitter distributor. MeansV is provided in the control v circuit for imposing a'slight time delaywbetween the.

stopping of one transmitter distributor and the starting of the next, to permit ,thev completion of the character which is being transmitted,

My invention, both as to its` organization and method of operation, 4will be bestunderstood lby. reference to 1,3

cuit designation maybe preceded lby al' blank, Carriage Return and Line Feed. A sufficient number of repeats is made to make a tape of useable length and lthe ends the same num-ber and sequence o-f characters in each group. A different loop must be madefor each different 60` circuit. vlpfydesired,V a short phrase such as'Via Mackay Radio may be includedin the groups on the round tape.`

The auxiliary tape, which is illustrated in Fig. 4B, is perforated with groups of combination, each group kbeginning with a` different serial number (e. g. '45, 46) followed by Carriage Return, Line Feed and Letter Shift. The frst group is also preceded by a lettershift combination. This auxiliary serial number tape'is kept on hand and used for making all automatic number tapes.` `It is usually reproducedfrom a'master tape. n l

' The manner' of preparing .a-'n'umbei' tape from the to Fig. 3.

` core to make it slow to `operate and release. is necessary to permit the completion of the transmission the second transmitter-1 distributor TD2, afigurelshift line of perforations of thefround'tape ,being'lined up-over the f sensing pins in' the transmitter TD1 and a' letters shift line of perforations being lined upoverfithesensing pinslin the transmitter distributor TD2.

The switches 11 and 12 are now closed, switch 11 slightly before 12. Relay K1 is now-energized from battery,

="closed` contacts of switches '10 -andillL-normally` closed Lcontacts 9 in T D1, back contacts 13'of-relay.K2; winding of relay K1 to -l-battery. Relay K1 operates, opens the circuit of relay K2 at contacts 14and at front contacts 15 closes a `circuit for the clutch magnet C1 of transmitter distributor TD1 over a circuit,V -battery, `switch 11, clutch magnet C1, 'back contacts 15of relay K3, l-battery.

Th code perforations (Blank, CarriageHReturn, Line Feed, Circuit Designation Letters, and` Figure Shift) on the round tape are now transmitted over the sending contacts 17 of transmitter distributor TD1 to the typing reper- -forator RP via the normallyclosed'contact 21a asin distributor TD2. When the Figure shift perforations are "sensed, the contacts 9, controlled by-contact lever 8 ('Fig.

2) of transmitter distributor TD1 responsive to the ligure "shift combination, are opened momentarily and the circuit of relay K1 is broken. Relay K1 releases and opens the circuit forthe clutch magnet C1 at contact 15 and the transmitter distributor TD1 is stopped. At the same time, at back contact 14, the following circuit is closed for relay K2 -battery, switch 12, Vnormally closed contacts 9 responsive to the letter shift combination in trans- `mitter distributor TD2, back contact 14,"winding of `relay K2, -l-battery.

A circuit is also closed over contacts 18 of relay K2 for relay K3, which, however, is provided with a slug on its This delay ofthe Figure shift character by the transmitter distributor TD1 before starting transmission ofthe transmitter distributor TD2.

When relay K3 operates, it closes at contacts `19 a circuit for the clutch magnet C2 of the transmitter distributor -TD2, over a circuit, -battery, switch 12, clutch magnet C2, contacts of relay K2, contacts 19 of relay K3,

l-battery. Transmitter distributor TD2 now starts transmitting to the reperforator RP over its sending contacts 21. the characters on the number tape,` namely, the serial digit or digits, Carriage Return, Line Feed and Letter Shift.

Upon sensing the letter shift character, the letter shift se-y lector mechanism in transmitter distributor TD2 momentarily opens the contacts 9', thereby breaking the circuit of relayy K2. When relay K2 releases, the circuit of clutch C2 of the transmitter distributor TD2 is opened at contacts 20 and the transmitter distributor is stopped. At the same time relay K1 is re-energized. After a slight delay, relay K3, the circuit of which is broken at contacts 18 of relay K2, falls back, and at contacts 16 again closes the circuit of the clutch magnet Clof transmitter distributor TD1. The cycle is now` repeated, but this time the next serial number in ascending order is transmitted by the transmitter distributor TD2.

A serial number tape containing the circuit designation code and ascending serial numbers is` thus produced by the repreforator RP. lfdesired, two or more serial number 4tapes may be simultaneously made by connecting `additional reperforators in the signal circuit.

While l have described above the principles of my int vention in connection with specific apparatus, it is to be `clearly understood that thisdescription is made o'nly by way of example and notas a limitation-to the scope of my invention.

. Whattis claimed is:

l. Apparatus for preparing a number tape of the kind described, comprising first and second automatic tape transmitter distributors, a reperforator, a control circuit, a round tape perforated with repeated groups of first code perforations each .said` group comprising a circuit designation code preceding a figure shift combination, an auxiliary tape perforatedwith repeated groups of second code perforations, each said group comprising a different serial number code followed by a letter shift combination, relay means in said control circuit responsive to the sensing of said figure shift combination in said first transmitter distributor for stopping said first transmitter distributor after the transmission of a group of said first code perforations and starting said second transmitter distributor and responsive to the sensing of said letter shift combination in said second transmitter distributor after the transmission of a group of said second code perforations for starting said first transmitter distributor and stopping said second transmitter distributor and means for applying the signal from said first and second transmitter distributors to said `reperforator, whereby successive groups of code signals from each tape are applied alternately to said reperforator,

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, wherein each said group of code perforations of `said round tape comprises carriage return and line feed combinations preceding said circuit designations, and eachisaid group of code perforations of said auxiliary tape comprises carriage return and line'feedcombinations following said serial number code.

` 3. Apparatus for preparing a number tape of the kind described, comprising first and second automatic tape transmitter distributors, a reperforator, a control circuit, a round tape perforated with repeated groups of code perforations each said group comprising a circuit designation'code preceding a figure shift combination, an auxiliary tape perforated with repeated groups of code perforations each said group comprising a different serial number code followed by a letter shift combination, a selector extension adjacent the ends of the selector bars in said first transmitter distributor and shaped to sense both figure and letter shiftv combinations, contacts controlled by said extension, a selector extension adjacent the ends of the selector bars in said second transmitter distributor and shaped to sense a letter shift combination, other contacts controlled by said last-mentioned extension,trelaytmeans in said control circuit responsive to the `actuation of said first-mentioned contacts for starting said second transmitter distributor and stopping said first transmitter distributor 4and responsive to the actuation of said other contacts for starting said first transmitter distributor and stopping said second transmitter distributor, and

Y means for applying thesignals from said first and second transmitter distributors to said reperforator.

4. Apparatus asclaimed in` claim 3 in which said control circuit comprises time delay means for imposing a slightA delay between -the stopping of said first transmitter distributor and `the starting of said second transmitter distributor and between the stopping of said transmitter distributor and the starting of said first transmitter distributor. t

5. Apparatus as claimed in `claim 3, in which said means for starting and stopping said first and second transmitter distributors comprises first and second clutch magnets, respectively, and in which said relay means comprises first and second relays, a circuit for said first relay including said first mentioned contacts, the circuit of said second relay including said other contacts, the circuit of said first clutch magnet including contacts of said first relay and the circuit of said second clutch magnet including contacts of said second relay.

6. Apparatus as claimed `in claim 5, in which the l circuit of said rst relay includes contacts controlled by 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said control circuit further comprises a slow acting third relay, the circuit of which includes contacts of said second relay, the circuit of said iirst clutch magnet also including break contacts of said third relay and the circuit of said second clutch magnet including make contacts of said third relay.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which said last mentioned means comprises an input circuit for said reperforator including in series connection the signal sending contacts of said rst and second transmitter distributors.

9. The method of preparing a number tape of the kind described, which comprises preparing a round tape perforated with repeated groups of rst code perforations, each said group comprising a circuit designation code preceding a igure shift combination, preparing an auxiliary tape perforated with repeated groups of second code perforations each said group comprising a different serial number followed by a letter shift combination, running said tapes respectively through first and second automatic tape transmitter distributors, utilizing said figure shift combinations on said round tape to stop said first transmitter distributor after sensing the perforations of a rst group and start said second transmitter distributor, utilizing said letter shift combinations on said auxiliary tape after sensing the perforations of a second group to stop said second transmitter distributor and start said rst transmitter distributor, and applying the signals from said first and second transmitter distributors to a reperforator.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,540,029 Hamilton et al J an. 30, 1951 2,674,312 Joel Apr. 6, 1954 2,711,794 Ghertman June 28, 1955 

